Car-fender.



W. T. WATSON. GAR FENDER,

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1909. 962,278. Patented June 21, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET WITNESSES Mll/E/WOR M jllkuiz T/zouzaghaison ATTORNEYSANDREW a. GRAHAM co. PNOTO-LITHOGRAFNERS wasmumon. as

W. T. WATSON.

GAR FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1909.

WITNESSES ANDREW B GRAHAM ca. PNOTO-UTNOGRAPHERS. WASHINGTON, 0.0

Patented June 21,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS W. T. WATSON.

GAR FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1909. v

' Patented June 21,1910.

. 39 V v WITNESSES v l/VI/E/VTOR W3 [Zia/r1 7 120mm 62160]:

UNITED TATE PATENT @FFIQE.

WILLIAM THOMAS WATSON, OF VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

CAR-FENDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM THOMAS WATSON, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and a resident of Vancouver, in the Province of BritishColumbia and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and ImprovedCar-Fender, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to certain improvements in car fenders, and moreparticularly to that type of fender in which a cradle, basket or crateis so supported that it may be moved to operative or inoperativeposition.

The main object of my invention is to so construct the fender that itwill remain in a raised position and out of engagement with the trackuntil said fender comes in contact with an obstruction, at which timethe fender will be released and automatically dropped to pick up theobstacle, be it a fallen person, animal or other body.

In my previous Patent, Number 728,637, I provide a fender and a trip barin advance thereof and adapted to raise and pass over the obstruct-ion,and in so doing to release the fender and permit the latter to drop.

In my present construction, I provide a trip bar but so mount it that itmoves rearwardly upon contacting with an obstruction and in so doing,releases the fender. V

Another important feature of my invention is the provision of means forforcibly lowering the fender when the latter is released.

A further feature is the means employed for insuring the simultaneousrelease of the fender supports at both sides.

Various other features of my invention will be set forth more fullyhereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formin a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of ref erence indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures, and in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a portion of a car provided with a fender constructed andsupported in accordance with my invention, the fender being in raisedposition; Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing thecradle and trip section in their released or lowered position; Fig. 3 isa sectional detail taken on the line 33 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 31, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910. Serial No. 510,598.

of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of my improved fender and support;Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is atransverse section on the line 66 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of the support for one end of the cradle.

My improved car fender may be secured to a street car or to any othersimilar vehicle adjacent the front end thereof and preferably to theunder side of the platform. The body portion of the fender, that is, theportion which picks up persons, animals or other bodies on the track andsupports them until the car comes to a stop, may be constructed in anywell-known and approved manner, as the main features of the constructionor car proper, constituteno portion of my present invention.

The main features of my present invention relate to the means forsupporting the fender and for automatically dropping the same intoengagement with the track when the fender encounters an obstacle. In myimproved construction, the cradle is carried by two cradle plates, whichlatter are normally supported by two trip dogs. The trip dogs haveport-ions normally tending to swing toward each other to release thecradle carriers and permit the cradle to drop. The trip section has atrip bar or rod disposed intermediate these two dogs and contacting withboth of them to positively prevent their swinging toward each other andto thus prevent the cradle from being released. The trip section isconnected to the trip rod, so that should the trip section come intocontact with any obstruction on the track, it will be forced rearwardlyand the trip rod will pass out from between the two trip dogs and permitthe latter to swing and release the cradle. The dropping of the cradleis facilitated by the action of springs and the trip section is soconnected to the cradle that it is dropped with the latter.

In my improved fender I employ two hanger plates rigidly secured to aportion of the car adjacent the front end thereof and at opposite sides,and to each hanger plate is pivotally secured a carrier plate. To eachcarrier plate I pivotally connect the cradle carrier, which latter isheld in predetermined position in respect to its carrier plate by thetrip dogs. In the specific form illustrated,

the latter.

I employ two hanger plates 10, rigidly secured to an angle iron beam 11of the car and supported from above by suitable steel braces. Eachhanger plate extends forwardly from the beam 11 and in contact with itsouter side is a carrier plate 13.

The carrier plate is pivotally secured to the hanger plate by a pivotpin 14 which extends through registering apertures in the two plates.The 'pivot pin has a lug or flange 15 upon one side thereof adjacent theinner end, and the two apertures have corresponding enlargements throughwhich this lug may pass. Upon placing the carrier plate in its properposition in respect to the hanger plate, the pin 14 may be inserted androtated through approximately ninety degrees, to lock the two platestogether.v The entire weight of the cradle is carried by the two cradlelates and normally tends to retate these p ates about the pins 14. Toprevent such rotation, each carrier plate has a laterally andrearwardly-extending flange, hook, projection or lug 16, which engageswith the edge of the hanger plate and limits the downward movement ofthe front end of the carrier plate. The carrier, plate adjacent itsupper edge has an outwardly-ex-v tending flange 17 to which is pivotallysecured a stop dog 18. This dog when dropped into a horizontal position,as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 7, engages with the front edge ofthe hanger plate above the pin 14 and prevents rotation of the carrierplate in the. opposite direction. Thus, the carrier plate is lockedagainstrotation in either direction in respect to the hanger plate,butby swinging the stop dog upwardly and outwardly, the carrier late maybe rotated through approximately ninety degrees, to bring the cradlefrom an approximately horizontal position to an approximately verticalposition adjacent the front of the body ofthe car. The carrier platesare not moved in respect to the hanger plates except when it is desiredto raise the cradle and secure it in an upright and inoperativeposition, or

entirely.

Pivotally secured to each carrier plate is a cradle carrier 19, which isnormally held against movement in respect to the carrier plate but is solocked that it may be released to drop the cradle whenever the tripsection of the fender encounters an obstacle. The cradle carrier ispivoted to the carrier plate by a pivot pin 20' adjacent the rear endand constituting the trip section. The front end of the cradle carrier19 extends beyond the front edge of the carrier plate 13, and adjacent atrip dog 21 pivoted to The trip dog has a long arm and a. short arm andis pivoted adjacent the front end of the carrier plate so that its shortarmextends into the downward path.

prevented from swingincarrier plate and terminates directly below afront extension 23 of the cradle carrier. The two dogs 21 extend towardeach other and extend downwardly and their outer ends support the weightof the cradle and the cradle carriers. Thus, the outer ends of the.dogs'tend to swing downwardly, and

the inner and longer ends tend to swing upwardly, but by means of thetrip rod hereinafter more particularly referred to, these inner ends ofthe, dogs are prevented from swinging upwardly and toward each other,and, therefore, the outer ends are downwardly, so that they support thecradle. carriers. Each cradle carrier has two .outwardly extend ingbrackets 24, 24, perforated to receive the cradle suspension pieces25.These sus pension piecesare-in the .form of. tubes or rods which extendrearwardly through the two brackets and forwardly along the sides of thecradle. The cradle may be readily removed from the cradle carrier bymoving the cradle suspension pieces 25; forwardly out of the brackets.This movement is nor mally. prevented by pins 26 extending through therear ends of the cradle suspensionpieces and connected by a chain to theadjacent pivot pin 14.

The cradle suspension pieces 25 maysups port any suitable form of cradleas my present invention does not reside in the detail construction ofthe cradle proper. The specific form illustrated includes side bars 27,27 telescoping with the front ends of the cradle suspension pieces 25and connected by corner brackets 28 to a front transverse member 29. Theside members 27 are also connected by a rear member 30 and one or moreintermediate members 31. Extending longitudinally of the cradle are aplurality of straps, slats or bars 32- constituting the bodyof thecradle. The front transverse member 29 is formed of rigid tubing thesame as the side members 27, but the remaining members -of the cradleare preferably flexible and, to a certain extent, resilient, so as topresent a yielding surface. In order to hold the cradle suspensionpieces 25 and the rear ends of the side members 27 of the cradle inpredetermined relationship when the cradle is re moved from the cradlecarrier, I preferably connect the two suspension pieces 25 by atiered-33. This tie-rod not only tends to strengthen the cradle but ittends to reinforce thehangers, as the suspension pieces arm extends pastthe outer surface of the I cannot be drawn toward each other by a heavybody in the cradle, and thus cannot exert lateral strain on the hangers.

The hangers, carrier plates, cradle carriers and suspension pieces, areso proportioned as to normally hold the cradle in an approximatelyhorizontal position, or at least with the front edge of the cradlespaced above the car tracks or above the ground, but the particularposition of the cradle and the particular position which it normallyoccupies, will depend to a certain extent upon the details of the cradleemployed.

In connection with the cradle, I provide a trip section disposed inadvance of the front edge of the cradle and so mounted as to moverearwardly and release the trip dogs 21.- This trip section isillustrated as including a tubular frame having front and back members34 and 35 and side members 36, 36. The oppositely-disposed members ofthe frame are connected by suitable transverse and longitudinal strappieces 37 and 38, similar to the strap members 31 and 32 of the cradleproper. The front edge of this trip section is always in advance of thecradle proper and is movable relatively to the latter. The trip sectionis supported by two rearwardly-extending bars 39, 39, which, at theirrear ends, are connected to a transversely-extending trip bar 40. Thisbar is normally disposed between the two dogs 21, and is of such lengththat when the two dogs have their inner and longer depending ends inengagement with the ends of the trip bar, the latter positively preventsthe inner ends of the dogs from swinging upwardly. As the bar is belowthe pivotal centers of the dogs, it is evident that the opposed ends ofthe dogs will move toward each other in swinging upwardly to the levelof the pivotal centers, but the trip bar being placed between the twodogs and in engagement with each when they are below their pivotalcenters, positvely prevents the latter from an upward movement. The tripsection, its supporting bars 39 and the trip bar 40, are supporteddirectly upon the cradle and are ree to move rearwardly should the freeedge of the trip section engage with any obstruction, for instance, aperson. The instant the free edge of the trip section comes intoengagement with any obstruction, the trip section is moved rearwardlyfrom the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 4. This rearward movement brings the trip bar out frombetween the two dogs 21, 21, and the inner ends of the latter are freeto swing upwardly under the weight of the cradle and cradle carrierswhich rest upon the outer ends of the dogs. The release of the cradlecarriers permits the free ends of the latter to swing downwardly andpermits the entire cradle and trip section to swing from the positionshown in Fig. 1 downwardly into engagement with the track, whichposition is shown in Fig. 2.

It is evident that the action of gravity will bring the cradledownwardly to the desired position, but in order to facilitate themovement and bring it about with the greatest rapidity so that the frontedge of the cradle will reach the track before the obstruction can passunder the cradle, I preferably employ heavy springs upon each side.These springs tend to aid the action of gravity and render the operationmore positive.

In the specific form illustrated, each carrier plate 13 is provided witha forward extension 41, to which is pivotally connected a depending rod42. The rod passes through an aperture in a lug, bracket or extension43, rigid with the cradle carrier 19, and this lug, bracket or extensionconstitutes the base plate for a coil spring 44. The upper end of thespring engages with a pin extending through the rod 42, and the springis normally under compression, so that it tends to force the front endof its corresponding cradle carrier downwardly.

The trip section may be made rigid wth the side bars 39, but, asillustrated, I hinge or pivotally connect these side bars to the freeedge of the trip section so that the lat ter may swing, as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 1. This permits the trip section to be swungforwardly in advance of the front ends of the side bars 39, to bring itat a greater distance from the front edge of the cradle proper, ifdesired. For holding the trip section against lateral movement and toprevent forward movement, I provide each side bar 39 with a collarconstituting a guide clamp 45, having an outwardly-extending lug 46normally disposed beneath a rearwardly-extending hook 47 carried by thefront transverse member 29 of the cradle. The hooks prevent the lateralmovement, as well as the forward movement, and tend to prevent the tripsection from tilting in respect to the cradle. As the trip section movesrearwardly, the lugs or flanges 46 move rearwardly from beneath thehooks, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The front transverse member 34 of the trip sectionis of tubular form, sothat it presents no sharp edges to cut or injure a person caught by thefender. In order to prevent the person from slipping beneath the tripsection without engaging with the latter with sufficient force tooperate the trip, the lower edge of the member 34 is preferably providedwith a forwardly and downwardly-extending strip or panel 50 of leather,rubber or similar material. This panel tends to increase the resistanceshould the trip pass over a person and will tend to catch on the personsclothing and insure the rearward movement and proper opera tion of thetrip. Although the trip bar 4L0 is primarily intended to be operated bythe rearward movement of the trip section, yet it is evident thatsuitable mechanism may be provided auxiliary to the trip section, sothat the motorman by operating a suitable lever or treadle, may forcethe bar 40 out of engagement with the dogs 21 and thus drop the cradlebefore it reaches a person on the track. The cradle so constructed willthus be subjected to automatic or manual operation.

In connection with the cradle and its supports above described, I may,if desired, employ a back 48 for preventing a person from violentlycontacting with the front end of the car body and for preventing himfrom passing off the rear edge of the cradle. This back may be of anysuitable character and may be adjustably supported by brackets t9 or inany other suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a car fender, the combination of de; pending substantially rigidhangers, fender supports pivotally secured thereto but normally lockedagainst movement, fender carriers pivoted to said fender supports, and afender carried by said fender carriers.

2. In a car fender, the combination of pivotally-supported fendercarriers, a fender having rearwardlyextending members secured thereto,locking means for preventing the upward movement of said fender, aspring normally tending to force said fender downward, and a movablelocking means for normally holding said fender against downwardmovement.

3. In a car fender, the combination of pivotally-supported fendercarriers, a fender having rearwardly-extending members secured thereto,locking means for preventing the upward movement of said fender, aspring normally tending to force said fender downward, a movable lockingmeans for normally holding said fender against downward movement, and atrip section extending in advance of said fender for operating saidfirst-mentioned locking means.

4. In a car fender, the combination of pivoted cradle carriers, a cradlesecured thereto, two trip dogs in engagement with said carriers forsupporting the latter and maintaining the cradle in raised position, a

trip bar in engagement with both of said dogs, and means for moving saidtrip bar out of engagement with said dogs to release both simultaneouslyand permit the dropping of the cradle.

.5. In a car fender, the combination of movable cradle carriers, acradle secured thereto, two pivoted dogs each having one end normallysupporting its corresponding cradle carrier, the opposite ends of saiddogs normally tending to swing toward each other, and a trip bardisposed intermediate said dogs and normally preventing said swingingmovement.

6. In a car fender, the combination of movable cradle carriers, a cradlesecured thereto, two pivoted dogs each having one end normallysupporting its corresponding cradle carrier, the opposite ends of saiddogs normally tending to swing toward each other, a trip bar disposedintermediate said dogs and normally preventing said swinging movement,and means in advance of the cradle and operatively connected to saidtrip bar and movable rearwardly upon encountering an obstruction.

7. In a car fender, the combination of cradle carriers pivoted adjacenttheir rear ends and each adapted to swing in a vertical plane and eachhaving outwardly-extending brackets, a cradle having cradle suspensionpieces detachably-secured to said brackets, and means in engagement withthe front ends of said cradle carriers for normally supporting thelatter.

8. The combination with a car, of a cradle pivotally secured thereto, aplurality of independently-movable locking members for normally holdingsaid cradle in a predetermined position, and means for releasing saidlocking members simultaneously. 7

9. The combination with a car, of a fender pivotally secured thereto,two independently movable pivoted dogs for normally holding said fenderin a predetermined position, and releasing means forpermitting thesimultaneous movement of said dogs.

10. The combination with a car, of a cradle pivotally supportedtherefrom, two independently movable locking members for supportingseparate portions of said cradle, and means for releasing said memberssimultaneously.

11. The combination with a car, of a cradle pivotally supportedtherefrom, two independently movable locking members for supportingseparate portions of said cradle, and a trip section in advance of saidcradle and movable to release said members simultaneously.

ing members to permit the movement of the locking members and cradlecarriers.

14. in a car fender, the combination of pivoted cradle carriers, acradle secured thereto, means for independently supporting said cradlecarriers, a trip section in advanceof said cradle, and a bar adjacentthe rear of said cradle and connected to said cradle carriers forreleasing said cradle carriers simultaneously.

15. In combination, a pivotally supported car fender, means for normallyholding the fender in raised position, a trip section in advance of saidfender, guides on said fender, and lugs carried by said trip section and15 normally disposed beneath said guides for preventing an upwardmovement of the trip section.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of 20 two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM THOMAS WVATSON.

lVit-nesses A. E. GALPIN, GEO. N. VEST.

